This is a rhyming story about a little boy who wants so much to be part of the team. Even though things look difinitely out of control, the day's events lead up to a positive ending for Willie.
How To Catch a Frog
By Kaye Petts
8/16/06

It was Willie’s first turn at marbles that day.
He was excited, thrilled to the extreme.
Last year made him depressed and quite perfectly stressed,
for he was much to small to be part of the team.

But this year was different, he was bigger by far
and the big guys gave Willie the OK.
They said, “ We’ll try you one time but if you shoot out of line,
this will be the last game you ever play.”

So, he opened his pouch and reached down inside,
pulled out his trusty, best, cat eye supreme.
He held it up to the sun. “Yep, this is the one.”
He was proud how the sun made it beam.

Then he readied himself and took extra care
as he lined up his cat eye just right.
When he let the thing go, someone shouted, “Oh No!”
Well, that cat eye flew clean out of sight!

Willie sprang into action as he followed it’s path
through the school yard and out through the field.
It just wouldn’t slow down, as it rolled into town.
Even traffic couldn’t get it to yield.

He followed that marble as it sailed past the church
and he chased it through town and beyond.
As he watched it proceed, he became worried indeed
for it was headed toward Bickerbee’s Pond.

Willie tried to catch up, but fell just in time
to watch as his cat eye took flight.
It landed smack on a log, right next to a frog.
Poor, poor Willie, his heart leapt with fright.

Now, he thought for a moment, as he glared at the frog
and his cat eye, the log and the pond.
But before he could move, the frog, cunning and smooth,
Stretched his tongue, bloop, the marble was gone.

Now what could he do, all the kids from his school
stood behind him, they had seen the whole show.
He had to make the right move, his reputation to prove
He just couldn’t let his best cat eye go.

So, he inched ever slowly toward the log and the frog
and his dazzling cat eye supreme.
Then he realized the hopper had his hop stopped quite proper
since the marble weighed more than he’d dreamed.

With the fat frog now his, Willie turned toward the crowd
and announced with new confidence indeed.
“If anyone needs a lesson on the art of frog catchin’,
just ask Willie, pure success guaranteed!”

Well the crowd cheered and roared, the big guys shook Willie’s hand.
He was now truly part of the team.
All because of a frog, a log and a pond
And his trusty, best, cat eye supreme.
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